Osteospermum plant named ‘Sunost1403’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Osteospermum  plant named ‘Sunost1403’, characterized by its compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; freely branching growth habit; freely flowering habit; large daisy-type inflorescences with purple violet and violet blue-colored ray florets; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Osteospermum ecklonis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNOST1403’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofOsteospermum plant, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sunost1403’.

The new Osteospermum plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Odense, Denmark. The objective of theprogram is to create and develop new Osteospermum plants with compactand uniformly mounded plant habit, freely flowering habit and attractiveray and disc floret coloration.

The new Osteospermum plant originated from a cross-pollination by theInventor in May, 2011 of a proprietary selection of Osteospermumecklonis identified as code number 09.20.003, not patented, as thefemale, or seed, parent with Osteospermum ecklonis ‘Sunost1101’,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,162, as the male, or pollen, parent.The new Osteospermum plant was discovered and selected by the Inventoras a single flowering plant within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Odense,Denmark in June, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Osteospermum plant by terminal cuttingsin a controlled greenhouse environment in Odense, Denmark sinceSeptember, 2012 has shown that the unique features of this newOsteospermum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Osteospermum have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Sunost1403’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Sunost1403’ as a new and distinct Osteospermumplant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant        habit.    -   2. Freely branching growth habit.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Large daisy-type inflorescences with purple violet and violet        blue-colored ray florets.    -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Osteospermum differ primarily from plants of thefemale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Osteospermum are more compact than plants        of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Osteospermum and the female parent        selection differ in ray floret color as plants of the female        parent selection have pale purple-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Osteospermum differ primarily from plants of the maleparent, ‘Sunost1101’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Osteospermum are more undulate        than leaves of plants of ‘Sunost1101’.    -   2. Plants of the new Osteospermum and ‘Sunost1101’ differ in ray        floret color as plants of ‘Sunost1101’ have purple-colored ray        florets.

Plants of the new Osteospermum can be compared to plants of theOsteospermum ecklonis ‘Sunny Evita’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.16,667. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Odense, Denmark, plantsof the new Osteospermum differed from plants of ‘Sunny Evita’ in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Osteospermum had smaller and glossier        leaves than plants of ‘Sunny Evita’.    -   2. Plants of the new Osteospermum and ‘Sunny Evita’ differed in        ray floret color as plants of ‘Sunny Evita’ had light        purple-colored ray florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Osteospermum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Osteospermum plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Sunost1403’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typicalinflorescence of ‘Sunost1403’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurementsdescribe plants grown during the winter in 11-cm containers in aglass-covered greenhouse in Odense, Denmark and under cultural practicestypical of commercial Osteospermum production. During the production ofthe plants, day temperatures ranged from 14° C. to 20° C. and nighttemperatures averaged 14° C. Plants were pinched one time and were 14weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Osteospermum ecklonis ‘Sunost1403’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Osteospermum ecklonis identified as code number 09.20.003,            not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Osteospermum ecklonis ‘Sunost1101’,            disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,162.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About twelve days at            temperatures about 18° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 14 days at            temperatures about 18° C. to 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, summer.—About 20 days at            temperatures about 18° C. to 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, winter.—About 28 days at            temperatures about 18° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright, outwardly            spreading and mounding plant habit; inflorescences            positioned above and beyond the foliar plane on strong            peduncles; moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 14.3 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 22 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Quantity per plant: Freely branching habit            with about five primary lateral branches per plant; pinching            enhances branching potential. Length: About 6.9 cm.            Diameter: About 5 mm. Internode length: About 7 mm.            Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to            144B to 144C.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple; sessile.            Length: About 6.9 cm. Width: About 3.4 cm. Shape: Obovate to            narrowly obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Long attenuate.            Margin: Irregularly and coarsely crenate. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Sparsely to moderately glandular pubescence;            rough. Venation pattern: Pinnate, arcuate. Color: Developing            leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A. Developing leaves,            lower surface: Close to 137C. Fully expanded leaves, upper            surface: Slightly darker than between N137A and 147A;            venation, close to 144A. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to between 146A to 147B; venation, close to            144A to 144B.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Daisy-type inflorescence form with            oblanceolate-shaped ray florets; inflorescences terminal and            axillary and positioned above and beyond the foliar plane on            strong peduncles; disc and ray florets developing            acropetally on a capitulum; inflorescences face mostly            upright to slightly outwardly.        -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit with about 40            inflorescences developing per plant.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flowering response.—In Denmark, plants of the new            Osteospermum flower continuously from spring to late summer;            early flowering habit, plants begin flowering about six to            eight weeks after pinching.        -   Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences of plants of the new            Osteospermum last about two to three weeks on the plant;            inflorescences not persistent.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About            1.1 cm. Shape: Ovate. Color: Close to 137A to 137C; towards            the apex, close to 150B.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 5.7 cm. Depth (height):            About 2.2 cm. Disc diameter: About 1.2 cm. Receptacle            diameter: About 3 mm. Receptacle height: About 2 mm.        -   Ray florets.—Length: About 2.9 cm. Width: About 7.5 mm.            Shape: Oblanceolate; slightly reflexing. Apex: Acute. Base:            Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth,            glabrous; slightly velvety. Texture, lower surface: Mostly            smooth, glabrous; towards the base, pubescent. Number of ray            florets per inflorescence: About 22 arranged in two whorls.            Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to N82B; towards            the base, close to 86D. When opening, lower surface: Close            to 145D; towards the base, close to 122B. Fully opened,            upper surface: Close to N81B; towards the base, close to            84A; main color becoming closer to N81C and towards the            base, closer to 91A, with development. Fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 145D; towards the base, close to 115D.        -   Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular; apex dentate, five-pointed.            Length: About 8 mm. Diameter, apex: About 3.5 mm. Diameter,            base: About 1 mm. Number of disc florets per inflorescence:            About 80. Color, immature: Apex: Close to 102D. Mid-section:            Close to N77C. Base: Close to 157D. Color, mature: Apex:            Close to 97B to 97C. Mid-section: Close to N82D. Base: Close            to 157D.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 24 arranged in            two whorls. Length: About 1.1 cm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape:            Lanceolate. Apex: Narrowly acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin:            Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous. Texture,            lower surface: Sparsely pubescent. Color, upper surface:            Close to 138B; margins, close to 147B. Color, lower surface:            Close to 137A; margins, close to 138A.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 5 cm. Length,            fourth peduncle: About 3.1 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect, terminal peduncles: Mostly            upright. Aspect, axillary peduncles: About 27.5° from stem            axis. Texture: Moderately pubescent. Color: Close to 143B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets            only. Filament length: About 2 mm. Anther shape: Lanceolate.            Anther length: About 3 mm. Anther color: Close to 203B.            Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 23A.            Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets. Pistil            length: About 4 mm. Stigma shape: Bi-parted. Stigma color:            Close to N186B. Style length: About 3.5 mm. Style color:            Close to NN155D. Ovary color: Close to 145B.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development has not been            observed on plants of the new Osteospermum.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Osteospermum have not    been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Osteospermum plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Osteospermum have been    observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind,    high temperatures about 40° C. and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness    Zone 9.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Osteospermum plant named‘Sunost1403’ as illustrated and described.